6:45 AM - 9:00 PM

That's how long S was at SOM yesterday. 

She was dropped off just before 7:00. She did prayer group, she did classes, she worked on school work with classmates, she attended the evening church service -- served in a ministry and took notes on the message, which she has to turn in -- then she came home.

But when she went to sleep the night before, she was unable to complete all her school work so she had to wake extra early to get it done in time for classes.  And when she came home last night -- completely exhausted -- she still had school work to do.  She knew she'd be up late last night and early today to get it done in time for class today.

So I can totally understand what she means when she came to tell me goodbye for the day and she said, "Mama, I'm starting to lose track of my days.  Is today Thursday or Friday?  I know I have my planner ... but it's hard for me to figure out which day to look at."

Our poor baby is doing school pretty much non-stop and she is a little confused about where one day ends and the next begins.

I feel like that sometimes in my mom-job.  So I can relate.

But she's 17.  And she is doing so well in these circumstances.  Better than I would -- I can tell you that, straight up.

I promised her that a lot of people are praying for her (I know specifically of several, including myself).  Here's what I'm praying for her this morning...

Lord, give her extra energy today and every day.  Help her not lose her mind as she continues to work hard day and night for your purposes.  She is going to school to know you better, to create a better foundation for whatever lies ahead in adulthood; bless her time spent with you and given as a sacrifice to you.  I'm certain there are dozens of things she'd rather be doing as a teenager ... but she chose School of Ministry over all of them.  She can't do it without you.  Be there.  Help her feel your presence each and every day.  Help her know that her family is supporting her and lifting her up in prayer -- even when she feels separation anxiety about being away from us so much more than usual.  Develop her friendships within her classmates so that they may be a support to her and a human connection for her.  Give them compassion for one another because only the students of SOM can fully know what each of them is enduring for you this year.  Thank you so much for the gift of S in our lives and the example she is setting for all of us.  Amen.

I thought you all might like to see her fall schedule so you have an idea what kinds of things she is doing and learning:

This does not include the morning prayer group or homework time.  If I didn't make her do enough writing assignments in homeschool over the years, she's certainly making up for lost time this year!  This girl's hand must be permanently cramped for all the writing they have her doing.

I just keep telling her that if anyone can do this, she can.  It's one year of her life and I know it's going to be amazing.  She's amazing.